The Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of three Ukrainian aircraft in the DPR

Russian pilots shot down two MiG-29 fighters of the Ukrainian Air Force, as well as one Mi-8 helicopter in the Donetsk People’s Republic, informed the official representative of the Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.

“Fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the areas of the settlements of Stepanovka and Belozerskoye of the Donetsk People’s Republic shot down two MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force. In addition, a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter was shot down near the settlement of Timofeevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” he said.

In addition, Russian air defense forces shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft near Ugledar and another Mi-8 near the village of Severnoye in the DPR, he added.

The Ministry of Defense also reported that Russian troops continued offensive operations in the Donetsk direction, as well as strikes against the forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kupyansky, Krasnolimansky and Yuzhnodonetsky directions.

Russia’s special operation in Ukraine began on February 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the protection of the inhabitants of Donbass, as well as the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, its goals. During the special operation, Russian troops took full control of the LPR, as well as most of the DPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. Subsequently, these territories became part of Russia, and on October 19 martial law was introduced in the regions.

In response, Western countries imposed large-scale sanctions against Russia and began to provide military assistance to Ukraine. Western military aid to Ukraine totaled $40 billion, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said November 30.